Fabrication, characterization and antibacterial properties of Ag2O QDs in molecular sieve matrix synthesized from rice husk silica at room temperature

Abstract

In this work, mesoporous MCM-41 nanoparticles (MCM-41NPs) were synthesized using the rice husk ash (RHA), as the silica source at room temperature. Ag₂O quantum dots were prepared using a chemical method in matrix nanoparticles, and used as an antibacterial material. Bactericidal activity of the nanomaterials was investigated against <em>E. coli</em> and <em>S. aureus</em> bacteria. The synthesized materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The minimum concentrations of nanocomposite to inhibit the growth of <em>E. coli</em> and <em>S. aureus</em> strains were 12.5 µg/mL. The Ag₂O quantum dots indicated acceptable antimicrobial properties, with an average diameter of 16 mm.